Individual Cranberry Tarts
Source: Ann Marshall
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 4-5 tablespoons cold water
- 3 cups fresh or frozen, thawed cranberries
- 2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 15-oz. can pear halves, drained and chopped
- ¾ cup golden raisins
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons dark rum
Directions
- In a medium mixing bowl combine flour, salt and 1 tablespoon sugar. Use a fork to cut the butter and vegetable shortening into flour mixture.
- When mixture resembles coarse meal, sprinkle water one tablespoon at a time over flour and toss gently with a fork. Continue process until mixture holds together, and then form dough into a ball, flatten into a disk shape, wrap dough in foil wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Roll out dough on a floured surface. Cut individual circles about 1 inch larger than the tart pans. Fit the circle into the tart pan, folding the excess dough evenly under the edge to make a ridge. (NOTE: If you don't have mini tart pans, you can make tart shells on inverted muffin tins or custard cups by fitting the pastry circles over cups.)
- Bake tart shells for 10 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks before filling.
Make the Cranberry Filling
- Combine cranberries, apples, pears, raisins, 1/2 cup sugar, orange juice and cinnamon in a heavy saucepan. Stir over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens.
- Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Place filling in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled.
- Fill cooled tart shells with filling.
Prepare the Apricot Glaze
- In a small saucepan blend together apricot jam, 2 tbs sugar and dark rum. Bring to a boil. Boil several minutes while stirring continuously.
- Brush warm glaze over filled tarts.







